The Story of Zechariah

Introduction:

“You’ve all been naughty” – Santa, Rom. 3:23; others: “May the wicked be ashes under your feet this Yuletide”; “May your Coming Christmas Day Burn like a Furnace!”

BUT WE’RE JUMPING AHEAD OF OURSELVES. THIS STORY IS HOW GOD PREPARES HIS PEOPLE FOR THE COMING OF HIS SON: ANTICIPATION, PREPARATION, WARNING.

I) The Anticipation: The Prayers for Redemption (vv. 5-15)

A. The Long Silence

i. Luke’s Biographical Info anchors this story in history

1. Luke has done his homework – he locates this story in history

2. EXAMPLE: Names, dates, even where the angel was standing

B. The Long Years of waiting, wondering, hoping…

A Nation Waiting: God had been silent for a very long time – had his promises failed?

A couple waiting: Zechariah & Elizabeth mirror Israel’s Long years of waiting (vv. 5-7)

An Answered Prayer

A. The Personal Nature of Redemption...

A career High Point for Zechariah (vv. 8-10)

God will Graciously Give a gift to a childless couple (vs. 11-13)

B. …Mirrors Gods’ Greater Plan!

But no priest would turn this mission into a personal prayer time; Z. was praying for Israel!

God is launching his salvation for His people… (vv. 14-15)

YOU AND I MIGHT WANT TO JUMP RIGHT TO SALVATION; BUT GOD RARELY WORKS THAT WAY. INSTEAD, HE USUALLY TAKES THE TIME TO PREPARE HIS PEOPLE. THERE ARE TWO WAYS.

II) The Preparation: God Readies His People (vv. 16-17)

A. Preparing for Spiritual Renewal

1. God prepares us for salvation by warning of judgment

Gabriel’s quotation of Malachi: “John will be Elijah 2.0” (Mal. 4:5-6)

Like Elijah, John would call people to repentance by warning of judgment (Luke 3:1-14)

God prepares Us for salvation by awakening our sense of God’s Law

Spiritual transformation isn’t sentiment but sense of God’s Law (Mal. 4:4)

B. God Prepares the Hearts of His People

Two ways we can be far from God

We break all the rules (pick your favorite!): sexual immorality; greed…

QUOTE: “The best way to avoid Jesus was to avoid sin.” -F. O’Connor

Many in Israel had drifted away from God by being GOOD.

ii. A new way to prepare for the coming of the savior:

Advent prepares us for Xmas: Jesus came b/c we’re a mess!

EXAMPLE: “Use the ugly”

ADVENT ALSO REMINDS US THAT JESUS WILL COME AGAIN; HOW DO WE GET READY?

III) The Response: Do Not Reject the Message! (vv. 18-23)

A. The Day of the Lord

The Coming of salvation entails judgment on sin

God’s Advent PROMISE: This world — with cancer, covid, Wildfires, inequality...

God’s advent message: How we live matters in light of eternity

The silence of the prophet (vv. 20-22)

An unfair response for a righteous man? (Luke 1:18-20)

Because Zechariah Questions God’s Word he will not speak a “word” (Luke 1:18-22)

Transition:

Conclusion

EXAMPLE: Margaret Charlton EXPERIENCED TRANSFORMATION THAT BEGAN WITH CONVICTION